moving to NEPA, want someplace safe

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Yikes....I'm glad I bought a house when I did....I can't believe that the going rate for a 1 bed 1 bath apartment in this area could be in the $800/month range! 3 bedroom apartments in these complexes are near $1200/month! I wouldn't think too many people in this area can afford those prices.

We're not really that big of a "bargain" anymore. Yes, we're cheaper than Long Island, New Jersey, and SEPA, but we're really now only "average" in terms of the rest of the nation when it comes to housing expenditures. I just arrived home from a spontaneous trip to Pittsburgh, and I was surprised to see that even though that city is much more well-educated and well-to-do than Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is, housing prices were similar (if not even slightly LOWER!)

[Mr Yuk]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

We're not really that big of a "bargain" anymore. Yes, we're cheaper than Long Island, New Jersey, and SEPA, but we're really now only "average" in terms of the rest of the nation when it comes to housing expenditures. I just arrived home from a spontaneous trip to Pittsburgh, and I was surprised to see that even though that city is much more well-educated and well-to-do than Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is, housing prices were similar (if not even slightly LOWER!)

You're right...prices have shot through the roof around here. I bought my house almost 7 years ago, which was when real estate was still dirt cheap around here, and right before prices went up. I'm glad I did, my mortgage payment is a lot less than the going rate to rent an apartment these days. There are still bargains around, but they're either in lousy neighborhoods, have no yards or off-street parking, or the houses are dilapidated. Or all of the above. Although this economy may push home prices way down.

I still have to wonder, in an area where you still see job ads bragging about paying $10/hour, how there are enough people who can afford an $800-1200/month rent payment.